NCAA deems two former Fordham basketball players permanently ineligible after sports-betting investigation

Gray claimed that both he and Richardson agreed to lose the contest in exchange for $10,000-$15,000. Gray, however, said he got cold feet and decided to give his normal effort during the contest, which Fordham won. Gray said he cut ties with the bettor at that point and never received money. He claimed, however, that Richardson continued to communicate with the bettor and reached out the Gray after being interviewed by the NCAA, another violation.

Richardson was interviewed a second time by the NCAA, though again denied being involved in the scheme. He also said he did not reach out to Gray following Richardson’s first NCAA interview, though phone records showed the two spoke a day before Gray’s interview. Phone records also showed Richardson reached out to a third Fordham player who had yet to be interviewed by the NCAA.

Gray was cooperative with investigators and agreed that he “violated ethical conduct rules by providing information to a known bettor.” Gray, however, maintained that he did not follow through on the scheme. He expressed remorse for his actions, per the NCAA. Both Gray and Richardson were hit with Level 1 violations for their actions, the most severe category of rule violations at the college level.

Richardson, on the other hand, did not participate in the “processing” of his case. In doing so, he failed to cooperate with the investigation and knowingly provided false information during his interview with enforcement staff. Those violations are also considered Level 1.

Because of that, both players were deemed permanently ineligible. They can “only be reinstated with the assistance of an NCAA school,” per the NCAA’s ruling.

The NCAA also announced Tuesday that former Kennesaw State men’s basketball player Simeon Cottle refused to take part in an NCAA sports-betting investigation. The association noted that his actions would normally result in a violation, but Cottle no longer has NCAA eligibility.